Northern Ireland's protracted peace process reaches a landmark deadline on Friday when political parties must nominate a "rst and deputy "rst minister for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The British and Irish prime ministers have set 26 March as the deadline for the return of a power sharing government at Stormont. The deadline was struck after the St Andrews Agreement was published on October 13 following intensive three-day talks between the North's political parties and the British and Irish governments at St Andrews in Scotland.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

The Irish and British governments have said they are satis"ed the agreement was the basis for a political settlement.

In a joint statement, Irish foreign minister Dermot Ahern and NI Secretary Peter Hain (left) said: "There is much to be done and there is a responsibility on all to play their part. We will work actively with the parties to complete this task and clear the way for a new era for the people of Northern Ireland." The DUP has issued a resolution neither backing nor rejecting the plan, while Sinn Fein has given it quali"ed support.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Policing remains the main stumbling block that may still hinder the peace process arriving at its full potential. The DUP is blaming any delay on Sinn Fein's refusal to back plans for policing, while the Sinn Fein leadership is trying to deal with the contentious issue of encouraging republicans to back the PSNI.

The policing issue could well affect the chances of the DUP's Ian Paisley (left) being named Northern Ireland's First Minister with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness being declared his deputy on Friday.